Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ANSWER TO THE PLATONICKS, by ABRAHAM COWLEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ANSWER TO THE PLATONICKS, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: So angels love; so let them love for me
Last Line: More lustful was, then the hot youth of troy.
Subject(s): Lust


SO Angels love; so let them love for me;
When I'me all Soule, such shall my Love too be:
Who nothing here but like a Sp'rit would do,
In a short time, beleeve't, 'twill be one too:
But 'shal our Love do what in Beasts we see?
Ev'n Beasts eat too, but not so wel as We.
And you as justly might in thirst refuse
The use of Wine, because Beasts Water use:
They tast those pleasures as they do their food;
Undrest they tak't, devour it raw and crude:
But to us men, Love cooks it at his fire,
And adds the poignant sawce of sharp desire.
Beasts do the same: 'tis true; but antient fame
Sayes, Gods themselves turn'd Beasts to do the same.
The Thund'rer, who, without the female bed,
Could Goddesses bring forth from out his head,
Chose rather Mortals this way to create;
So much he 'steemd his pleasure, 'bove his state.
Ye talk of fires which shine, but never burne;
In this cold World they'lle hardly serve our turne,
As uselesse to despairing Lovers growne,
As Lambent flames, to men i' th' Frigid Zone.
The Sun does his pure fires on earth bestow
With Nuptiall warmth, to bring forth things below;
Such is Love's Noblest and divinest heat,
That warmes like his, and does, like his, beget.
Lust you call this; a name to your's more just,
If an inordinate Desire be Lust:
Pygmalion, loving what none can enjoy;
More lustful was, then the hot youth of Troy.





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